Analysis & Data · Entry / volunteer
Match Data Collector
Tags events in matches from video for a data provider, often part-time and remote.
Do you need a qualification?
Not needed No qualification is needed to get in.
No qualification is needed. Providers look for football knowledge, accuracy, speed and reliability.
Per match or part-time hourly.
What the role involves
- Record passes, shots and defensive actions from match video
- Review quality and follow the data rules
- Work to deadlines in match windows
Ways in, with or without formal qualifications
Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.
Experience
Work as a match data collector
Data companies hire part-time collectors to tag matches from video. It teaches how events are defined and opens routes into data and analysis jobs.
Self-built
Tactical self-study
Structured study of matches, coaching books, courses and interviews builds knowledge you can talk about and write about. It does not replace a record of practice.
Self-built
Build a public football data portfolio
Use open and public football data to produce analysis, models and visualisations that you can show. A well-explained project proves skill without any certificate.
Qualifications and licences
None of these is a barrier to entry, but each can help you learn, get noticed or move up later.
Short course
Data & Analytics Courses (SQL, Python, Machine Learning)
Short courses and certificates in data skills. Their value comes from the projects you complete with them, especially football-based projects.
Skills and knowledge
Tools you may use
Where this role is found
Where this role leads
Performance Analyst (Academy / Lower League)
Helpful
Films, tags and presents match and training video for coaches.
Recruitment Analyst
Helpful
Uses data and video to build shortlists and support scouts.
Common stepping stones into this role
Usually an entry point reached directly through study, volunteering, playing or work experience. See the routes below.
Pay and context by region
Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.
| Region | Indicative pay | Football structure |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Unpaid or expenses, up to £12K GBP | Premier League, EFL Championship, League One and League Two, then the National League system and a deep grassroots pyramid. |
| Spain | Unpaid or expenses, up to €11K EUR | LaLiga EA Sports and LaLiga Hypermotion, then Primera Federación and regional leagues. |
| Germany | Unpaid or expenses, up to €14K EUR | Bundesliga, 2. |
| Italy | Unpaid or expenses, up to €11K EUR | Serie A, Serie B, Serie C and the Serie D amateur tier. |
| France | Unpaid or expenses, up to €12K EUR | Ligue 1, Ligue 2, National and regional leagues, with a highly developed training-centre system. |
| United States & Canada | Unpaid or expenses, up to $20K USD | MLS, NWSL and USL pro tiers, a pay-to-play youth model, and a large college (NCAA, NAIA, USports) football system that doubles as a career route. |
| Brazil | Unpaid or expenses, up to R$29K BRL | Série A to D, state championships and an intense youth system that sells many players abroad. |
| Saudi Arabia & the Gulf | Unpaid or expenses, up to SAR 65K SAR | Professional leagues backed by major state investment, with fast-growing academies and a strong demand for international staff. |
| India | Unpaid or expenses, up to ₹330K INR | The Indian Super League and I-League sit above state leagues. |
| Nigeria & West Africa | Unpaid or expenses, up to ₦4.8M NGN | Domestic leagues feed a strong export route to European clubs, with many private academies and scouting networks. |